Agenda item

Notices of Motion

“In view of the level of public concern
and the impact of the Autumn Budget, this Council urges the Cabinet
to reconsider their decision to end funding for school crossing
patrols.”

(b) Mr Atkins to
move the following motion:

“This Council uses its influence with
partners in the public and private sectors to improve opportunities
for those who are care leavers in employment and training, so when
they leave our care they have the same opportunities and
aspirations as other young people, and also to help those who are
workless who need help in returning to work.”

“In
view of the level of public concern and the impact of the Autumn
Budget, this Council urges the Cabinet to reconsider their decision
to end funding for school crossing patrols.”

Mrs Atkins indicated
that thousands of people had signed petitions asking the Council to
think again in respect of the Cabinet’s proposals to remove
School Crossing Patrols. She also
stated that there was a high level of public concern about the
removal of the Patrols and that the such an action would put
children’s’ lives at risk.
She added that schools did not have huge resources to enable them
to meet the cost of providing the Patrols and that community groups
were unlikely to have the appetite or funding to take on board
responsibility for the provision of the Patrols. She concluded by indicating that it was vital that
the Cabinet reconsiders its proposals.

Mrs Fisher moved, and
Mr Wileman seconded the following amendment:

To delete all of the words after “in view of” and
replace them with “concerns and in anticipation of the local
government settlement, this Council encourages people to take part
in the ongoing consultation on school crossing patrols and for
Cabinet to take into consideration the results of that consultation
when they make their decision.”

Mrs Fisher indicated
that the original motion implied that a decision to remove School
Crossing Patrols had been taken and that this was not the
case. She also expressed the view that
the motion would deter people from participating in the public
consultation which was currently taking place. Mr Wileman added that he would encourage all
Members to get involved in this consultation.

Mr Robinson indicated
that he was opposed to the removal of School Crossing Patrols and
that the suggestions that Parish Council’s or community
groups would step-in to provide the service was unrealistic,
particularly in those areas of the County which were not
“parished”.

Mr Atkins moved that
the question be put. The Chairman
indicated that before doing so he would allow Mr Dave Jones, as
seconder of the original motion, to speak; allow Mrs Fisher to
respond; and then give Mrs Atkins the right of reply.

Mr Jones indicated
that in his view the removal of school crossing patrols would put
children’s lives at risk and that he could not support the
amendment to the motion proposed by Mrs Fisher. In response, Mrs Fisher stated that the Council
recognised what a fantastic job those providing school crossing
patrols did and she encouraged people to take part in the
consultation and that, to date, nearly 400 responses had been
received. She reiterated that no
decision on the future of School Crossing Patrols had been
taken.

Mrs Atkins indicated
that there was real public concern about the implications of
removing School Crossing Patrols and that it was unlikely that
community groups/volunteers would take on the role.

Following a
vote the amendment was agreed and became
the substantive motion.

RESOLVED – In view of
concerns and in anticipation of the local government settlement,
this Council encourages people to take part in the ongoing
consultation on school crossing patrols and for Cabinet to take
into consideration the results of that consultation when they make
their decision.

(b) Mr Atkins moved, and Bryan Jones seconded, the following
motion:

“This Council uses its influence with partners in the
public and private sectors to improve opportunities for those who
are care leavers in employment and training, so when they leave our
care they have the same opportunities and aspirations as other
young people, and also to help those who
are workless who need help in returning to work.”

Mr Atkins indicated that as a major employer
in Staffordshire, the County Council already provided a range of
opportunities for care leavers including the “open
door” scheme which recently celebrated its thousandth person
into employment. He added that more
could be done to encourage other organisations in both the public
and private sectors to improve opportunities for care leavers.

Mrs Woodward indicated that she supported the
motion and moved that the question be put.

Following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED – This Council uses its influence with partners in the public and
private sectors to improve opportunities for those who are care
leavers in employment and training, so when they leave our care
they have the same opportunities and aspirations as other young
people, and also to help those who are workless who need help in
returning to work.